Testing a dental caries risk predicting device

“Objective:”, To test a device that predicts the risk of dental caries. “Methods:”, This cross-sectional study used the ISS-ACFO handling guideline device to determine the risk of dental caries in 328 adolescents with ages ranging between 15 and 19 years; 164 with of them with cavitational caries and 164, without caries. The sample was probabilistic and the selection, aleatory. The prevalence rate, the Kappa concordance test for every risk predictor, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for the device were defined. “Results:”, According to the statistical Kappa test, the concordance between the risk predicting factors in the ISS/ACFO device, with the presence of caries, was “good” for the past caries experience, and “low” for the familial profile, educational level of the parents, dental alignment, macromorphology, eruption level and presence of devices. No concordance was established between the lifestyle predicting factors and visible bacterial plaque. The ISS/ACFO device showed a sensitivity of 99.39% with a positive predictive value of 46% and a specificity of 27.43% with a negative predictive value of 97%. “Conclusions:”, Only the “ past caries experience” risk predictor showed a “good” Kappa concordance value. The ISS/ACFO device showed a high sensitivity value with a low positive predictive value and a low specificity value with a high negative predictive value.